Sri Lanka · SNORKELING

Snorkelling in Sri Lanka: The 15 Best Reef and Turtle Trips

30 tours  ·  from $16 a head

Turtles in the shallows at Hikkaduwa, reef off Pigeon Island and Trincomalee when the east is dry. These 15 are priced, with a note on which supply decent gear and which seasons actually have the visibility.

Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa - Coral, fish, and the parts between turtle sightings
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Galle, Turtle Hatcheries & Beaches

Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

1.Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 268 reviews · from $25Our pick

Meet your guide at Araliya Restaurant in Mirissa, walk to the beach, and snorkel for about an hour near Parrot Rock. This is a private, shore-based outing for two people, not a boat trip. Your guide provides equipment, helps less confident swimmers, searches for turtles and reef life, and sends underwater photos and videos afterward.

“We had a great time snorkelling with sea turtles. Our guide was flexible as the weather wasn't great and so advised us to wait for 30 minutes for the water to clear. When we did snorkel, the guide was very helpful and patient and helped us swim with up to five sea turtles. The experience was great and we'd highly recommend.”

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Mirissa: Snorkeling Experience with Turtles - From the beach to the snorkeling area
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Mirissa, Turtle Hatcheries & Beaches

Mirissa: Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

2.Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 123 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Join Z R I Adventures for a one-hour turtle snorkeling trip near Mirissa. You get gear, instruction, a short boat ride, and a small group capped at eight. Guides such as Amil, Pasi, and Sandesh have helped beginners find turtles, fish, rays, coral, and moray eels, with photos and videos included.

“This is a great snorkelling tour! They pick you up from your hotel and have good communication with you via WhatsApp. You get on the boat from the sand out the front of the dive centre and it’s a short boat ride to go snorkelling. We were lucky enough to see 4 turtles and the guides provided seaweed to feed them. We saw lots of fish and coral also. Highly recommend this tour!”

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Mirissa Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles - What happens before you enter the water
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Galle, Turtle Hatcheries & Beaches

Mirissa Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

3.Mirissa Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 120 reviews · from $24

Join Mirissa Adventure for a two-hour private snorkeling trip near Mirissa. You’ll receive equipment, instruction, hotel pickup in the Mirissa area, snacks, water, and a freshwater rinse. Swim near sea turtles, spot small fish and coral, and ask for instructor Nuwan if available.

“Great experience! The staffs were friendly and we had a wonderful time. I highly recommend doing it.”

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Trincomalee: Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour - FAQ
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Trincomalee, Whale & Dolphin Watching

Trincomalee: Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour

4.Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 81 reviews · 5 hours · from $84

Start at Trinco Bay Dive Center with tea or coffee, then head offshore for blue whales, sperm whales, and spinner dolphins. After fruit and refreshments, snorkel around Navy Island with a guide, reef fish, coral, and turtles. Equipment, safety support, and underwater photos and videos are included. Pickup costs extra.

“This was one of the best tours I’ve done in Sri Lanka! We started early in Trincomalee with a warm welcome at the dive center and a cup of tea before heading out to sea. The whale and dolphin watching was unforgettable ,we saw a huge fin whale and a pod of spinner dolphins right next to the boat! After returning, we had some fresh fruits as a light refreshment before going snorkeling at Navy Island. The snorkeling was amazing clear water, colorful coral, tropical fish, and even a sea turtle. The snorkeling guide was super helpful and made sure everyone felt safe. One of the best parts was the…”

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Snorkeling at Pigeon Island - What the $42 price really covers
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Snorkeling at Pigeon Island

5.Snorkeling at Pigeon Island

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 66 reviews · from $42

Spend about three hours snorkeling at Pigeon Island National Park, roughly 3 km from the beach. A small group of up to seven takes a round-trip boat, uses supplied snorkeling gear, and explores a marked area with corals, parrotfish, eels, boxfish, and possibly turtles, rays, or reef sharks. Transfers from nearby hotels cost extra.

“Booked at the last minute and it turned out I was the only one on the boat from the location south of Nilaveli… a restaurant on the beach. The trip to Pigeon Island was a 10 min hop.”

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From Uppuveli Beach: Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour - The snorkeling itself, from guided viewing to free time
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Trincomalee

From Uppuveli Beach: Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour

6.From Uppuveli Beach: Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 3 hours · from $50

From Trinco Bay Dive Center near Uppuveli Beach, you’ll take a small boat to Pigeon Island National Park for guided snorkeling among coral, tropical fish, turtles, and Black Tip Reef Sharks. The trip lasts about three hours and includes gear, snacks, water, and a multilingual instructor. Bring cash for the separate LKR 13,000 park fee.

“Absolutely loved this tour! The coral reefs were vibrant and full of life. The guides made sure we were safe and even pointed out hidden sea creatures we would’ve missed. What makes Trinco Bay Dive Center stand out is their passion for the ocean, friendly service, and how they manage everything so smoothly. It’s the most well-run snorkeling tour in Trincomalee by far!”

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Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa - Leaving Mirissa Beach in a 10-person boat
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Galle, Whale & Dolphin Watching, Whale Watching Tours in Galle

Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa

7.Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews · from $348

Set out from Mirissa Beach in a boat limited to 10 people to search for blue, fin, Bryde’s, sperm, pilot whales, dolphins, and turtles. Snorkeling with whales is offered only when sea conditions and wildlife behavior allow. Gear, snacks, bottled water, and Mirissa-area pickup are included.

“Fantastic! I saw pilot whales, dolphins and turtles. Then, unbelievably, a massive fin whale swam underneath us. Incredible. The skippers are skilled in finding the whales and are friendly and helpful.”

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Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island - A short boat ride to the marine park
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island

8.Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 38 reviews · 3 hours · from $17

This three-hour Pigeon Island trip takes you by shared boat from Pigeon Island Tours to a marine park 3 km from Nilaveli Beach. You receive a mask, fins, safety jacket, and 1,000 ml of water, then snorkel independently among fish, corals, turtles, rays, and possible blacktip reef sharks. Park admission, food, guides, and hotel transfers cost extra.

“L’activité est plaisante, mais le rapport qualité / prix n’est pas bon. C’est trop cher pour une prestation qui, au final, se résume qu’à nous amener et nous ramener à 5min de bateau et prêter des masques. En plus de payer la prestation il faut payer « l’entrée de l’île » qui s’élève au moins à 70€. Sinon une fois sur place rien à dire, l’endroit est magnifique et on y voit réellement beaucoup de requins et quelques tortues !”

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Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa - Coral, fish, and the parts between turtle sightings
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Galle, Turtle Hatcheries & Beaches

Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

9.Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $35

Join a private two-hour snorkeling trip from your Mirissa hotel, with two-way transfer, boat transport, mask, snorkel, and fins included. You will head to a turtle spot over coral reef, where a guide swims with your group and points out turtles and fish. Weather can affect water clarity, so flexible plans matter.

“All went to plan and tuck tuck picked us up at the hotel on time for a 10 min drive to site. There is a changing room if required and they will keep your valuables but they gave us a box to ta put our phones in and take with us on the boat . HRead more”

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Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island - A short boat ride to the marine park
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling Trip to Pigeon Island

10.Snorkeling Trip to Pigeon Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $42

Meet at Divinguru Nilaveli at 1:30 pm for a short boat ride to Pigeon Island Marine Park. You will snorkel from shore for about two to three hours among coral, reef fish, eels, and possibly turtles or blacktip reef sharks. Gear, snacks, and water are included, but the park fee is not.

“A nice day to snorkel, my family and I were picked up at our hotel by a Tuktuk (who also brought us back in the late afternoon)!”

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Snorkeling in Unawatuna - The boat ride to the snorkeling spots
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Galle

Snorkeling in Unawatuna

11.Snorkeling in Unawatuna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · from $40

You’ll spend about two hours snorkeling from Unawatuna Beach with an instructor and a maximum of five people. Equipment, a boat ride, and basic instruction are included. The shallow bay suits beginners, though sea conditions can affect visibility and reef quality.

“The guides and organisation of the trip was really good but the reef they took us to was really disappointing. No corals, very few fish and nothing else.”

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Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Mirissa (Pickup and Drop included) - The important rule: do not touch the turtles
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Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Mirissa (Pickup and Drop included)

12.Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Mirissa (Pickup and Drop included)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $45

Meet at 7:30 am for a guided snorkel outing near Mirissa. Guide Aja leads you to turtle waters that are hard to find alone, with fins, wetsuit, towel, life jacket, snacks, and selected hotel pickup and drop-off included. Expect roughly two hours in the water, plus time to relax on the beach.

“We had a fantastic time. Saw loads of turtles and colourful fish. The guide was fabulous. Would highly recommend this experience.”

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Pigeon Island Snorkeling – Swim with Sharks & Turtles - Meeting in Nilaveli and getting to the water
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Pigeon Island Snorkeling – Swim with Sharks & Turtles

13.Pigeon Island Snorkeling – Swim with Sharks & Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · from $16Best value

Meet Pigeon Island Tours in Nilaveli for a three-hour boat trip to Pigeon Island National Park. You’ll snorkel over coral reefs with supplied gear and safety equipment, looking for eels, parrotfish, turtles, rays, and possible blacktip reef sharks. The park ticket costs extra.

“Had a great experience with this tour. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking to explore the beautiful pigeon island”

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Snorkeling Trip from Polhena Beach, Matara, Sri Lanka - A short route with a clear purpose
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Mirissa

Snorkeling Trip from Polhena Beach, Matara, Sri Lanka

14.Snorkeling Trip from Polhena Beach, Matara, Sri Lanka

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 11 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29

Start at Polhena Beach near Matara for 1.5 hours of guided snorkeling with a group capped at five. Snorkeling Mirissa supplies clean, modern masks, fins, and safety gear. Guides such as Dilip and Supul help beginners, point out fish and coral, and may lead you to sea turtles.

“Ich habe heute zum ersten Mal geschnorchelt. Mein Diver Dilip war sehr geduldig mit mir und hat sich schnell meinem Tempo angepasst. Wir haben mehrere Meeresschildkröten sehen können und sind mit ihnen zusammen geschwommen. Dilip hat mir wunderschöne Fische, Koralen und Muscheln gezeigt. Es war eine einzigartige Erfahrung! Ich kann es nur jedem empfehlen!”

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Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour From Uppuveli Beach - Leaving Trinco Bay Dive Center at 8:30 am
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Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour From Uppuveli Beach

15.Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour From Uppuveli Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $50

You’ll leave Trinco Bay Dive Center at 8:30 am for a short boat ride to Pigeon Island National Park. A professional guide leads you through clear water with coral, tropical fish, green turtles, and blacktip reef sharks. Boats hold no more than seven people, and snacks, water, and snorkeling gear are included. The park fee is extra.

“Quite expensive for what you got, but I did get to see several turtles and a dozen sharks. All the boats from the resorts land at the same small beach and follow the same snorkelling route. Consequently this route is crowded with people, anRead more”

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New in Snorkeling

★ 4.5Whale & dolphin watching +pigeon island tourFrom $1853 reviews
★ 3.5pigeon island tour + snorkelingFrom $454 reviews
★ 4.5Snorkeling in TrincomaleeFrom $503 reviews
★ 5.0Snorkeling Adventure at Angel Rock – Explore Vibrant Marine LifeFrom $253 reviews
★ 4.0Snorkeling On Beautiful Rock Island – Unawatuna by BoatFrom $304 reviews
★ 5.0Snorkeling Trip To Angel RockFrom $224 reviews
★ 3.0Snorkeling in HikkaduwaFrom $393 reviews
★ 4.0Hikkaduwa Snorkeling Tour: 2 Hours of Underwater AdventureFrom $453 reviews
★ 3.9All Inclusive Mirissa Whale & Dolphin Watching + SnorkelingFrom $1453 reviews

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